Nevada County picayune., 1887-05-18
MAMMOTH CAVE. Our Trip one of Pleasure and
 Profit.


 ino us to our bed since returning from the press convention and Mammoth Cave, we use the fol- lowing description of our trip written by our genial friend G. H Lower, of the Hot Springs Senti .nel. We prefer. doing this to wait ing longer, as it answers every purpose, and our readers expect the Editor.
 Before entering upon a descrip- ton of our recent pleasure trip to the wOrld-renowned Mammoth Cave, of Kentucky, a brief portion of it's history will not be ont of place, as there are so many who have never had the pleasure of visiting it and viewing the won- ders of the subterranean passages, which are of almost unknown length, romantic and awe-inspiring to the highest degree.
 There seems to be conflict of opinion as to the original dlscov- erer, or explorer of the Mammoth Cave. The first known history of it was written by Dr. Samuel Brown, of Lexington, in q paper read by him before the Phllosoph' ical Society, in 1866. He describ- ed the great cave as having two mouths with a commodious pas sage for wagons from one end to the other, the floor having the ap- pearance Ol much frequented road. This appearance,i if it ever eX' isted, is almost gone; the entrance to the main cave being now in a rough and broken condition and certainly impossible for wagons oI vehicles of any description and is entered by descending a flight ol rough stone steps in single file and with some risk to pedestrians. But to proceed with the hlstor- ical part of our story. Dr. Brown in Horace c. Hovey's Guide (sold for 9 cents per copy to all per sons editors included says "the level is so feet above that of crook ed creek, from which its entrance is lJO feet distant. The arch va ries from 10 feet to 60; the breadth averages 40 feet; though in some parts it is 70 or 80 feet"
 The first purchaser of the Nam moth Cave property was man named Mclean, who paid the enor nous (!) sum of $40 for it and 20C acres of land. He soon after wards sold it to a man named Gatewood, who in turn sold 1t te Gratz, of Philadelphia, and Wilk ins. of Lexington, who brought eN pe:ience and capital to aid in de velOping the immense nitre beds and hidden resources of the cave
 The property was bought in lS3' by Mir. Frank Gorin, who after wards sold it to a ScOtchman, Maj Wm. Crogan. This gentleman ex- pending large sums of money i'm proving the cave by building bridges, roads and buildings Maj Crogan died in lS45, and left tn, estate to trustees to be managed for his eleven nephews and neices several of whom survive and art in possession of this valuable prop ertv.
 The members of the Arkansa: Press Association left Little Rock Saturday afternoon over the Mem phis and Little Rock railway bound for the Mammoth Cave The party numbered tifty'seven, all told, including the editors, theil wives, daughters and sweethearts The ride to Memphis was very pleasant one, the railroad officials having arranged everything with an eye single 10 the comfort of the press gang. We arrived at Hope field about 9 o'clock p. m. Satur, day. and the tram was transferred across the river by the steamer Gen. Pierson. The musically in. clined sang several inspiring airs while crossing the Father of Wa ters (chesnnt.)
 We were soon across the river and aboard one of the splendid sleeping cars furnished by Mr. Hughes, Pullman Palace Car Di' vision Superintendent, and speed ing along like lightning over the Louisville and Nashville, one of the finest railroads in the country.
 We arrived at Glasgow junction Sunday at l;3O D. m., without ac- ciden., and were soon on our way over the Mammoth Cave railroad, which has been finished only few months, and is, consequently, pret- ty rough. and not run in the very best 0f style by the management. We reached Mammoth Cave hotel between , and 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon, tired, hungry and dirty. But little was done towards seeing the sights in the afternoon, most of the party taking short strolls, others lying around in hammockS snatcbing an hours rest.
 After supper it was agreed that Al .l, xr,att tIA